When the walls came down

Churches displaced by tornado find temporary homes with other denominations

Rick South, left, and Chuck Berg with Berg Studios out of Lubbock, Texas, install new stained-glass windows at Covenant Presbyterian Church on Hargrove Road on June 26. The church recovered 90 percent of the original glass from the windows and sent it to Berg Studios. The company has rebuilt the windows from pictures of the original window designs.

Erin Nelson | File | The Tuscaloosa News

By Allie HulcherSpecial to The Tuscaloosa News

Published: Sunday, November 25, 2012 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, November 24, 2012 at 8:10 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | The congregations at Tuscaloosa churches damaged or destroyed by the April 27, 2011, tornado learned firsthand that people, not a building, make a church.

While the holiday season is a time for homecoming and gathering of family and loved ones, some Tuscaloosa churches damaged in the 2011 storm are still “homeless” as Thanksgiving 2012 has passed and Christmas approaches. But a spirit of thankfulness lives on as pastors and parishioners continue to worship after the storm.

Right at home

The Rev. Kelvin Croom, the pastor of College Hill Baptist Church, sat in the opened trunk of his van on a Wednesday night.

He greeted everyone as they entered the church, ready for Wednesday night Bible study and praise and worship time. Everyone recognized him and shared a friendly word.

He seemed right at home.

But he wasn't at home, not technically. He was in the University Church of Christ parking lot. He was waving to members of his own congregation and University Church of Christ members.

Since the April 27, 2011, tornado tore through Tuscaloosa, destroying the 50-year-old College Hill church, the two churches have been sharing the same building.

College Hill Baptist hasn't missed a single Sunday service, thanks to University Church of Christ welcoming them into a wing of the church that was previously being unused. Some may say it was lucky. Croom calls it a blessing.

How do two different denominations worship in the same building? Croom said that it isn't an issue at all, and that there's a very simple reason.

“We all worship the same God,” Croom said.

This Thanksgiving, Croom said his congregation celebrated the way they always have — with a meal for the whole community. But while the gathering in years past was held inside College Hill, this year it was held Nov. 18 at Jaycee Park in Alberta.

And though College Hill has fed as many as 300 people at past Thanksgiving meals, its members expected to feed 500.

Without a home

Central Church of Christ, like College Hill, is a church without a home, a year and a half after the tornado.

Trae Durden, the campus minister at Central Church of Christ, remembers with a laugh something his 6-year-old son said at their new church meeting place.

“He said, ‘I like this church a lot better because it has more bugs!' ” Durden said.

Central was on Hargrove Road, right in the path of the tornado.

The church's new meeting place?

The Alabama Fire College.

Central has been using the classrooms at the Fire College since June 2011. They worship in the fire truck bay. Located behind Shelton State Community College, the Fire College is about eight miles away from where the old church building used to be.

Durden said the church's membership has dropped.

“A lot of elderly members can't go that far or have moved closer to family after the tornado,” Durden said.

Other churches besides Central have seen a drop in the number of elderly members.

Colby Mouchette, the student pastor at Alberta Baptist Church, said that a lot of members from his congregation dropped off after the tornado. Alberta Baptist now shares facilities with Open Door Baptist Church, across the river almost in Northport.

“Some people have had weird, immature attitudes,” Mouchette said. “It doesn't matter how close it is, they act like they've had to drive across the world.”

Mouchette called this attitude a fear of living on the edge or in somewhat uncertainty — which is what Alberta Baptist Church is embracing now.

With a congregation of about 215, Mouchette said a church could either boom or bust after the tornado. He says Alberta will boom.

“There's been no shortage of life,” Mouchette said. “I wouldn't be shocked if we doubled in the next five years.”

Covenant Presbyterian Church on Hargrove was damaged during the tornado, but opened up their building as a relief center after the storm.

Rush Watson, a 63-year-old member of Covenant, was the first baby born at the church.

As a co-chairman of the building and grounds committee, he had previously been in charge of the upkeep of the church. After the storm, his duties multiplied.

About 25 percent of the roof had to be repaired, and the choir room had to be rebuilt. A stained-glass business in Canada replicated the original design, which was destroyed. The massive pipe organ had to be repaired as well.

Watson said rumors and apprehension were prevalent after the storm but that communication was key in relieving anxiety.

“The church was devastated,” Watson said. “But once they realized what decisions we had to make, everyone was willing to put forth the sacrifice.”

A partnership

Mouchette was mentored by Keith Pugh, the pastor at Open Door, so the churches already had ties with each other. Now he is working with the youth pastor at Open Door, and their respective youth groups have been meeting together on Wednesday nights.

The churches have started a ministry together, focused on Haiti. Mouchette says it's been a good partnership.

But the tie-in between the churches goes deeper than a good partnership. Open Door is in a much bigger building than the church members need, and they are still paying off the debt for it.

“We need the space and have the money,” Mouchette said. “That's the shallow way to say it.”

University Church of Christ had more space than it needed, too, allowing for Croom and his congregation to easily move into the extra wing of the church.

Croom said the two churches have been collaborating on sporting events and musical productions for the children. They are combining efforts to collect donations for a coat drive, and they are hosting an event in December for the churches' elderly members.

The two congregations have become close, but Croom is quick to say his congregation isn't there to stay.

“This is not our home,” Croom said. “We are grateful for this opportunity, but we are excited to rebuild.”

College Hill is still in the planning stage of rebuilding. Its members met with the city officials two weeks ago and the soil on the lot was tested last week.

Croom flips through the digitally made pictures of what the new building will look like. There's a great hall, a baptismal viewing area and a prayer tower. The pictures of the great hall and sanctuary look familiar — very similar to the church College Hill is worshiping in now.

Croom said his congregation likes University's building so much, they hired the same architect to design their new church.

The insurance money College Hill had wasn't enough to build back a whole new church. College Hill is working with its insurance company to get the rest of the money needed. Croom said he is anxious to rebuild the right way, and to stay within the church's means.

“The church wasn't in debt beforehand, and we certainly don't want to be in debt after,” Croom said.

Croom said a lot of memories were attached to the old church building. Funerals were held, marriages were performed, miracles took place, members were born again. Croom described the church as a holy piece of ground and a meeting place. All that's left of the church now is the concrete foundation, now known as “the slab.”

About 17 members of Croom's congregation were affected. The Nero family, which lost its home, was provided a new home by Habitat for Humanity. The money for the home was raised during the Tuscaloosa Get Up concert at the Bama Theatre in March. The Alabama Shakes, the Dexateens and Lee Bains III and the Glory Fires played and raised more than $20,000.

Doug Key, an elder at University, College Hill's host church, calls the relationship between the two congregations a beautiful friendship. He said he has been thankful for two things after the tornado.

“I'm thankful that we were not damaged by the tornado, but I'm also thankful that we have been able to help,” Key said.

Helping others

Durden said the Central Church of Christ congregation has grown because people are attracted to their focus on service. Several Central members' homes were damaged beyond recognition, and Central helped them.

Durden noted the passion that college students have for service. He said the college students have done a great deal of volunteering.

“People rally around a bad situation — people have jumped in just to be a part,” Durden said. “If you come to Central, you're going to serve, because that's what we do.”

Despite the church building being torn to the ground by the storm, Central was using its debris-ridden lot to serve others meals on the night of the tornado. Central served more than 70,000 meals from May to August, with the help of businesses located in Tuscaloosa.

Central was insured for what it could sell the building for, not for what it could replace it for. The members were about $2 million short on rebuilding, but they have gathered $500,000 from members and $1 million from outside donations.

The walls and roof of Central's new church building are already up on Hargrove road, where the old building used to stand. Durden said he anticipates having the first service in the building in July.

“You don't know what you can handle or accomplish until it slaps you in the face,” Durden said. “We've been through something terrible and traumatic, but we've had a renewal and a better understanding of what God expects of the people.”

Mouchette said he has never seen such a bold example of leadership in his church before. The church members have refocused their vision and calling with the knowledge that serving only themselves is useless, he said.

Alberta Baptist church and Open Door Baptist had a joint Thanksgiving service on Nov. 18, and afterward, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for Alberta Baptist's new church building.

Lynda Engle, a member of Open Door Baptist, said that it will be a bittersweet occasion when Alberta moves out.

“It's a blessing to see the church full,” Engle said. “Both congregations have different strengths, and it blends so well.”

One realization that has settled on all of the congregations that were affected by the storms is something that Mouchette stated very succinctly.

“Church is about the people, not the building, and we're very aware of that theologically now,” Mouchette said.

This Thanksgiving, Croom said he and his congregation at College Hill Baptist Church are thankful for the generosity of University Church of Christ.

“We are most thankful that God has showed us good people like those at University Church of Christ that have opened their doors and allowed us to continue to worship Christ,” Croom said. “Without their help, who knows where we would have been?”

<p>TUSCALOOSA | The congregations at Tuscaloosa churches damaged or destroyed by the April 27, 2011, tornado learned firsthand that people, not a building, make a church.</p><p>While the holiday season is a time for homecoming and gathering of family and loved ones, some Tuscaloosa churches damaged in the 2011 storm are still “homeless” as Thanksgiving 2012 has passed and Christmas approaches. But a spirit of thankfulness lives on as pastors and parishioners continue to worship after the storm.</p><p>Right at home</p><p>The Rev. Kelvin Croom, the pastor of College Hill Baptist Church, sat in the opened trunk of his van on a Wednesday night. </p><p>He greeted everyone as they entered the church, ready for Wednesday night Bible study and praise and worship time. Everyone recognized him and shared a friendly word. </p><p>He seemed right at home.</p><p>But he wasn't at home, not technically. He was in the University Church of Christ parking lot. He was waving to members of his own congregation and University Church of Christ members.</p><p>Since the April 27, 2011, tornado tore through Tuscaloosa, destroying the 50-year-old College Hill church, the two churches have been sharing the same building.</p><p>College Hill Baptist hasn't missed a single Sunday service, thanks to University Church of Christ welcoming them into a wing of the church that was previously being unused. Some may say it was lucky. Croom calls it a blessing. </p><p>How do two different denominations worship in the same building? Croom said that it isn't an issue at all, and that there's a very simple reason.</p><p>“We all worship the same God,” Croom said.</p><p>This Thanksgiving, Croom said his congregation celebrated the way they always have — with a meal for the whole community. But while the gathering in years past was held inside College Hill, this year it was held Nov. 18 at Jaycee Park in Alberta.</p><p> And though College Hill has fed as many as 300 people at past Thanksgiving meals, its members expected to feed 500.</p><p>Without a home</p><p>Central Church of Christ, like College Hill, is a church without a home, a year and a half after the tornado.</p><p>Trae Durden, the campus minister at Central Church of Christ, remembers with a laugh something his 6-year-old son said at their new church meeting place. </p><p>“He said, 'I like this church a lot better because it has more bugs!' ” Durden said.</p><p>Central was on Hargrove Road, right in the path of the tornado. </p><p>The church's new meeting place?</p><p>The Alabama Fire College.</p><p>Central has been using the classrooms at the Fire College since June 2011. They worship in the fire truck bay. Located behind Shelton State Community College, the Fire College is about eight miles away from where the old church building used to be.</p><p>Durden said the church's membership has dropped.</p><p>“A lot of elderly members can't go that far or have moved closer to family after the tornado,” Durden said.</p><p>Other churches besides Central have seen a drop in the number of elderly members.</p><p>Colby Mouchette, the student pastor at Alberta Baptist Church, said that a lot of members from his congregation dropped off after the tornado. Alberta Baptist now shares facilities with Open Door Baptist Church, across the river almost in Northport. </p><p>“Some people have had weird, immature attitudes,” Mouchette said. “It doesn't matter how close it is, they act like they've had to drive across the world.”</p><p>Mouchette called this attitude a fear of living on the edge or in somewhat uncertainty — which is what Alberta Baptist Church is embracing now.</p><p>With a congregation of about 215, Mouchette said a church could either boom or bust after the tornado. He says Alberta will boom.</p><p>“There's been no shortage of life,” Mouchette said. “I wouldn't be shocked if we doubled in the next five years.”</p><p>Covenant Presbyterian Church on Hargrove was damaged during the tornado, but opened up their building as a relief center after the storm.</p><p>Rush Watson, a 63-year-old member of Covenant, was the first baby born at the church.</p><p>As a co-chairman of the building and grounds committee, he had previously been in charge of the upkeep of the church. After the storm, his duties multiplied.</p><p>About 25 percent of the roof had to be repaired, and the choir room had to be rebuilt. A stained-glass business in Canada replicated the original design, which was destroyed. The massive pipe organ had to be repaired as well.</p><p>Watson said rumors and apprehension were prevalent after the storm but that communication was key in relieving anxiety.</p><p>“The church was devastated,” Watson said. “But once they realized what decisions we had to make, everyone was willing to put forth the sacrifice.”</p><p>A partnership</p><p>Mouchette was mentored by Keith Pugh, the pastor at Open Door, so the churches already had ties with each other. Now he is working with the youth pastor at Open Door, and their respective youth groups have been meeting together on Wednesday nights. </p><p>The churches have started a ministry together, focused on Haiti. Mouchette says it's been a good partnership.</p><p>But the tie-in between the churches goes deeper than a good partnership. Open Door is in a much bigger building than the church members need, and they are still paying off the debt for it. </p><p>“We need the space and have the money,” Mouchette said. “That's the shallow way to say it.”</p><p>University Church of Christ had more space than it needed, too, allowing for Croom and his congregation to easily move into the extra wing of the church.</p><p>Croom said the two churches have been collaborating on sporting events and musical productions for the children. They are combining efforts to collect donations for a coat drive, and they are hosting an event in December for the churches' elderly members. </p><p>The two congregations have become close, but Croom is quick to say his congregation isn't there to stay.</p><p>“This is not our home,” Croom said. “We are grateful for this opportunity, but we are excited to rebuild.”</p><p>College Hill is still in the planning stage of rebuilding. Its members met with the city officials two weeks ago and the soil on the lot was tested last week. </p><p>Croom flips through the digitally made pictures of what the new building will look like. There's a great hall, a baptismal viewing area and a prayer tower. The pictures of the great hall and sanctuary look familiar — very similar to the church College Hill is worshiping in now.</p><p>Croom said his congregation likes University's building so much, they hired the same architect to design their new church.</p><p>The insurance money College Hill had wasn't enough to build back a whole new church. College Hill is working with its insurance company to get the rest of the money needed. Croom said he is anxious to rebuild the right way, and to stay within the church's means.</p><p>“The church wasn't in debt beforehand, and we certainly don't want to be in debt after,” Croom said.</p><p>Croom said a lot of memories were attached to the old church building. Funerals were held, marriages were performed, miracles took place, members were born again. Croom described the church as a holy piece of ground and a meeting place. All that's left of the church now is the concrete foundation, now known as “the slab.”</p><p>About 17 members of Croom's congregation were affected. The Nero family, which lost its home, was provided a new home by Habitat for Humanity. The money for the home was raised during the Tuscaloosa Get Up concert at the Bama Theatre in March. The Alabama Shakes, the Dexateens and Lee Bains III and the Glory Fires played and raised more than $20,000.</p><p>Doug Key, an elder at University, College Hill's host church, calls the relationship between the two congregations a beautiful friendship. He said he has been thankful for two things after the tornado.</p><p>“I'm thankful that we were not damaged by the tornado, but I'm also thankful that we have been able to help,” Key said.</p><p>Helping others</p><p>Durden said the Central Church of Christ congregation has grown because people are attracted to their focus on service. Several Central members' homes were damaged beyond recognition, and Central helped them.</p><p>Durden noted the passion that college students have for service. He said the college students have done a great deal of volunteering.</p><p>“People rally around a bad situation — people have jumped in just to be a part,” Durden said. “If you come to Central, you're going to serve, because that's what we do.”</p><p>Despite the church building being torn to the ground by the storm, Central was using its debris-ridden lot to serve others meals on the night of the tornado. Central served more than 70,000 meals from May to August, with the help of businesses located in Tuscaloosa. </p><p>Central was insured for what it could sell the building for, not for what it could replace it for. The members were about $2 million short on rebuilding, but they have gathered $500,000 from members and $1 million from outside donations. </p><p>The walls and roof of Central's new church building are already up on Hargrove road, where the old building used to stand. Durden said he anticipates having the first service in the building in July.</p><p>“You don't know what you can handle or accomplish until it slaps you in the face,” Durden said. “We've been through something terrible and traumatic, but we've had a renewal and a better understanding of what God expects of the people.”</p><p>Mouchette said he has never seen such a bold example of leadership in his church before. The church members have refocused their vision and calling with the knowledge that serving only themselves is useless, he said.</p><p>“It's a fun ride — it's exciting, it's real, but we don't pretend like we're nailing this,” Mouchette said. </p><p>Alberta Baptist church and Open Door Baptist had a joint Thanksgiving service on Nov. 18, and afterward, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for Alberta Baptist's new church building.</p><p>Lynda Engle, a member of Open Door Baptist, said that it will be a bittersweet occasion when Alberta moves out.</p><p>“It's a blessing to see the church full,” Engle said. “Both congregations have different strengths, and it blends so well.”</p><p>One realization that has settled on all of the congregations that were affected by the storms is something that Mouchette stated very succinctly.</p><p>“Church is about the people, not the building, and we're very aware of that theologically now,” Mouchette said.</p><p>This Thanksgiving, Croom said he and his congregation at College Hill Baptist Church are thankful for the generosity of University Church of Christ.</p><p>“We are most thankful that God has showed us good people like those at University Church of Christ that have opened their doors and allowed us to continue to worship Christ,” Croom said. “Without their help, who knows where we would have been?”</p>